KEY POINTS:
Visitor Chen Hanqing says the best souvenir he could take home to China is luck - and he believes it can be found in New Zealand Mint's Year of the Ox coins.
Released before Chinese New Year last week, the lunar animal coins have also sold out in
just two days in China, where the series was made available for the first time.
"Lunar animal coins from a Western country are very rare, unlike those that are minted in Asia," said Mr Chen, 68, visiting from Guangzhou.
"I am buying these coins to give to my loved ones not only because I think it will bring them good luck, but also they will appreciate in value, signifying that they will also be heading for prosperity."
Mr Chen said the giving of gold or money during Chinese New Year symbolised good fortune, and many believed the good luck would come to both the giver and the recipient.
He believes New Zealand's ox coins are popular with the Chinese because they are full of "lucky symbols" - presented in a gold ingot box and inscribed with Chinese words and symbols representing good luck, prosperity, longevity and happiness.
With a worldwide mintage of just 20,000, the design also reflects a traditional Chinese ingot, a form of currency used by ancient Chinese Emperors, and has a boat-like shape to symbolise the transporting of wealth from one point to another.
Nancy Cheung, the mint's marketing director, said a lot of thought had been put into the design of the coins this year, partly also because this was the mint's first attempt to sell into China through the official China Gold.
The $2 gold coins, featuring an ox taken from the famous Five Ox painting from the Tang Dynasty more than 1000 years ago, are being sold for 399 yuan ($115) in China. "We made about 6000 available for the Chinese market, and they all sold out within days," said Ms Cheung, originally from Hong Kong.
"We didn't expect it to be so popular, but we will now definitely plan to make a lot more available next year."
Ms Cheung said the first coin - bearing the serial number 00001 - had been reserved by the mint to present as a gift to Prime Minister John Key, who was born in the Year of the Ox.
"The coin is full of blessings, and we want to extend it to our No 1 New Zealander." She said the coins, $99 in New Zealand, were still available here.
